Tethered-ball game



TETHERED BALL GAME Filed August 12, 1926 BY I A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED JOHN GILMOUR, OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY.

TETHERED-BALL GAME.

Ap lication filed August 12, 1926.

The invention has relation to games or game apparatus, having for an object to provide an improved game requiring con siderable skill and at the same time affording good exercise.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side view of the invention, different positions of the flexible cord being shown in dotted lines; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the invention, showing the ball in play with the revoluble strap in line therewith; Figure 3 is a similar View with the strap dropped into frictional engagement with the top of the pole and the cord wound around the pole; Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view of one form of base for the pole; Figure 5 is a similar View showing the pole. provided with a sharpened end and with sections having a strap connection; Figure 6 is a detail view of the pocket for the ball; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary View partly in section of a modified form of pivot pin for the strap.

In these drawings the numeral 1 designates a vertical pole or mast having a flat horizontal top 1, said pole, when the game is played by adults being approximately 8 feet tall and for children, 6 feet or there abouts, a single straight revoluble metallic strap 2 having a perforation 2 at its inner end and pivotally engaging a pivot pin 3 upon the top of the pole projecting at right angles thereto, a flexible cord or tape 4 being suspended at 5 from the outer end of said strap and hearing at the lower end thereof an openwork or knitted pocket 6 wherein is located a ball 7, said rope being spaced from the ground about one or two feet.

The ball 7 is a tennis ball or other ball of similar lively nature and the pocket 6 is so made that the ball can be readily removed therefrom after the game is finished so that it may not be exposed to the rain or bad weather. This would ordinarily be accomplished by so making the pocket that it may be opened for the reception of the ball and closed thereafter. For instance as shown in Figure 6 the ball may be slipped in between the meshes of the pocket at 7' and when the ball is in use it will naturally fall Serial No. 128,796.

to the bottom of the pocket or be driven out into such bottom or outer end of the pocket by centrifugal force. The ball is intended to fit fairly loosely in the pocket so that it may turn around therein and have different exposures to the racket with which it is intended to be hit as will be explained.

In the playing of the game only one playcr uses the game at a time. The player grasps a racket Swhich may be an ordinary tennis racket or other similar racket and strikes the ball therewith in such a way as to make the. ball revolve around the center pole with the cord 4 taut and more or less in line with the straight horizontal strap 2. The ball having revolved completely around the pole, the player strikes it again in the same direction, or it may be in the opposite direction, and endeavors to keep the ball revolving around the pole with the cord 4 taut as stated.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, in dotted lines, the revoluble strap 2 normally drops somewhat from the horizontal, owing to its weight and its somewhat loose fit around the pivot pin 3, the perforation 2 of the strap being larger in diameter than that of said pivot pin and the length of the shank of said pivot pin above the top of the post being greater than the thickness of said 4 strap. then the ball is hit and in play and the cord 4 becomes taut, said strap will assume a horizontal position due to the pull of the ball and cord, as shown in Figure 2. Should, however, the ball be not kept in play skillfully or sufficiently to keep the cord 4 taut, the strap 2 will drop through force of gravity, as in Figures 3 and 7, which will at once, due to friction of the strap with the top surface of the pole. cause the ball to take an irregular or eccentric path rather one concentric with the pole, the result being that. the ball will cause the cord to wind around. the pole, in which case the player will register a fault and his inning will be closed. Because of this tendency of the cord to wind around the center pole or any projec tion therefrom, it is necessary that the comparatively smooth approximately vertical sides of the center pole shall be without any such projections.

The ball being lively, only one player can play the game at one time, and he will find considerable exercise in keeping the ball in play, so that his attention will be constantly base for use upon a paved floor.

' -1 claim':

1-. In a gan1e,.a center pole having -ap proximately vertical unobstructed sides and a llat horizontal top, a single straight hori- 'zontal strap .at'right angles to and at its inner end having a loose pivotal connection with the top of said pole, and capable of droppinginto and being liftedout of fricti'onal 'en'gagementwith the top surface of saidpole, a flexible cord'suspended from the out-er 'end of said "strap andextending nor- Inallydownwards parallel to said pole and carryingiatitslower enda-lively ball adapt- 'edt'o 'beistru'ck'by a racket to cause it to re- "volvezaround said .::pole with said cord taut,

and to lift said'strap fromengagement with the top surface of said pole.

In a game, a center pole having approximately vertical unobstructed sides and a flat horizontal top, a single straight hori 'zontal strap at right angles to and at its inner end having a loose pivotal connection with the top of said pole, and capable of dropping into and being lifted out of frictional engagement with the top surface of said-pole, a flexible cord-suspended from the outer end of said strap and extending" normally downwards parallel to said pole and provided at its lower end with an open-work pocket adapted-to beopened and closed, and

a lively ball located in :said pocket loosely :and capable -of rotating therein to present different faces thereof to the racket with which fit is adapted-tobe struck in playing the game, said ball being thereby caused to revolve around the pole'with-the cord taut and to lif t said strap from engagement with the top surfaceof'the pole.

In testimony whereof I affix-111v signature.

JNo. GILMOUB. 

